The economic downturn and growth of preferred provider organizations (PPOs) in the U.S. are two of the most significant trends affecting dental offices today, according to a survey conducted by the Academy of Dental Management Consultants (ADMC).
The 18-question survey, compiled earlier this year into the 2011-2012 Practice Management Review, was sent to the academy membership to get a snapshot of trends they are seeing among their clients in the dental field.
The ADMC consists of more than 125 dental consultants, representing thousands of dental practices across the U.S. The survey focused on the topics of dental office production, collection, marketing, and insurance.
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| Chart courtesy of the ADMC. |
"Some consultants noted that patients actively seek PPO offices, which directly impacts offices that struggle to remain fee-for-service (FFS)," the ADMC noted. "We expect this to continue to present problems for FFS offices as PPOs continue to grow their insured numbers."
In addition, more than 90% of the survey respondents do not believe their clients are saving enough for retirement and are not as prepared for the future as they should be.
"Our members have noticed that dentists are practicing longer, but unfortunately the cause for staying in practice can be tied to the fact that they did not save enough for their retirement," the ADMC stated.
On a positive note, the survey found that patient reminder systems have had a positive impact on ADMC clients, although their use is still limited. In addition, more than 64% of ADMC clients plan to increase social media marketing efforts this year.
"Many dentists are using these deals to fill empty chairs, but we are cautioning our clients to pay attention to their state laws regarding fee splitting and dentistry," the ADMC noted.
